Janet Fardette: Time to take back downtown Santa Cruz

My husband and I have lived here in Santa Cruz for over 35 years. We raised our daughter here, and over the years we have seen this beautiful city turn into a veritable slum.

I do not say this lightly. Recently, we moved downtown into a very nice condo and have loved being retired and being able to enjoy our little city. We both have had a rude awakening. Our city no longer belongs to us. It has been taken over by drug addicts, homeless, panhandlers and the like.

When we have visitors, we have always enjoyed taking them downtown for a stroll. I am so embarrassed to do so now because our guests get accosted by panhandlers. Our town is dying, not because of the economy, but because these people are scaring away business. I can't tell you how many people we know, living here in Santa Cruz, who do not go downtown to shop. Or, they have said they take care of their business as fast as possible and leave, just to avoid the panhandlers. If we are going to survive as a town, a strict set of laws/codes must be enforced 24/7. If that includes constant patrolling of the downtown, then so be it.

Another area of concern is the river levee. My friend and I walk the levee three days a week, and have noticed one particular group of homeless folks living right across from the parking structure next to the Riverfront Cinema. They have increased in number and have spread out their "camp" and leave garbage about, hanging around all day and night. Is this legal? It's unnerving to have this sort of activity going on.

In order to help these people we need tax money for social services. This is generated from more businesses and by them doing well downtown. Somehow this idea has gotten lost.

Santa Cruz has a terrible reputation, let me tell you ... all over the Bay Area and beyond. I've witnessed, several times, shock in parents' eyes as they hold the hands of their children and walk by these people plopped down in front of stores. I witnessed that, again, only yesterday.

Please take back our city. I feel sorriest for the businesses trying to survive. Shame on us for making their attempts at livelihoods more difficult than they already are during these challenging times, by not addressing this problem more forcefully.